Update on Cloud File Provider Extensions
My understanding is that Box, Google, and Microsoft have migrated their Mac users to the File Provider approach, whereas Dropbox—probably the most popular among everyday Mac users—has only recently started to encourage those outside its beta program to switch (while others are still being asked to join the beta). It can be hard to tell since cloud storage providers often roll out changes over time or to subsets of customers to test user response, identify concerns, and reduce support loads. Some Dropbox users even report one Mac being upgraded to the new File Provider approach, while others continue to use the kernel extension.
I’ve switched most of my formerly Dropbox files to Git and am now using iCloud Drive for everything else. Unfortunately, iCloud Drive sometimes takes a day or more to sync new files from my iPhone to my Mac.
Some users, including us, have experienced situations where the local folder doesn’t move but becomes disconnected from the service.
[…]
However, there are no guarantees that references to files will all resolve to the new locations, and in the case of apps that use cloud storage for syncing settings, you may not even notice immediately.
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The most significant limitation of the new File Provider approach is that
~/Library/CloudStorageis located on your internal drive. For those with terabytes of files in a cloud storage service, that’s a huge problem.
Another case where it seems like Apple has forgotten those with external storage needs.
Therefore, assuming you have sufficient disk space, I recommend downloading your entire cloud storage data store, at least temporarily. Bring everything down and let Time Machine and your other backup systems make a copy.
Or, if you don’t have the space, ChronoSync can download the files in stages, back them up, and then evict them while keeping peak storage needs low.
Previously:
- Dropbox on Ventura
- ChronoSync 10
- OneDrive Root Change and Files On-Demand
- macOS 12.3 Beta
- Dropbox and Maestral
- ExpanDrive and File Provider Framework
Update (2023-05-30): John Gordon:
Microsoft has decided it will not fix Mojave and has retroactively dropped Mojave support [for OneDrive].
Update (2023-06-13): Dropbox:
The following charts outline the changes you can expect when using Dropbox for macOS leveraging the File Provider API.
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Dropbox Transfer doesn’t support new macOS packages.
Actions involving a large number of files can take longer than usual to complete.
Certain types of files may not sync on macOS 12.
LAN Sync is currently not supported.
Certain files or folders with very long names or that are located in deeply-nested folder structures won’t be synced.
[…]
Safari can’t open .html or .css files without Full Disk Access permission.
Update (2023-07-11): Jeff Carlson:
The latest version of my book Take Control of Your Digital Storage, 2nd Edition is now available, updating the content for macOS 13 Ventura and the upcoming macOS 14 Sonoma. In addition to sprucing up the whole 160-page book, this version 2.3 adds a few new important things[…]
Update (2024-04-08): Cabel Sasser:
Dropbox has been working on a new client using Apple’s “File Provider” system for literal YEARS — and we’ve never been given it. Today I learned it won’t roll out if your Dropbox has over 300,000 files. Extremely curious to know what bug they’re waiting on Apple to fix here. 😵💫
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There are two Cloud File Providers that still haven't migrated to the new Apple model that offer between 20 GB and up. One is Degoo and the other is Megasync. I found Mega a bit complex and it seems that if you upload a few GB's it creates a duplicate folder of the same data while uploading but referrals has it's benefits with each referral a person gets a free 5GB added to their account.
Dropbox still is a superior solution from the UX point of view. Dropbox folder that is placed in the root of Home or any other place that the user would specify is a simple, straightforward approach that is each to understand. Then this folder is synced to a cloud, and if Dropbox is installed on other devices, it will also sync there. If Dropbox, as a company, disappears, your synced files are still on your disk in an easy-to-find place.
Yes, some people choose not to keep all files locally, but that's by choice.
There are other innovative features too, but the central proposition is the key, and it is very, very different from "there will be a cryptically named place somewhere in the hidden by default folder." File Provider method might be good in some good-for-apple way, but it's not a good UX.
I don't see the described ChronoSync behavior (download files in stages, backup, evict) in the list of features for that product. Do you have a reference?
